scouch, v. Eng. regional (chiefly midl.) and U.S. regional (north.). Now rare.
Brit. /skaʊtʃ/, U.S. /skaʊtʃ/
Forms: 18 skouch, 18– scouch
[Apparently a variant of scrooch v. (compare forms at that entry): see note at scr- 2 and compare e.g. skimp v. beside scrimp v. Compare slightly later scooch v. Compare also squat v., crouch v.1]
intr. To crouch or stoop; to move while doing this.
| 1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northamptonshire Words II. 201 You'll hit your head agen the bean, if you don't scouch. 1890 Dial. Notes 1 19 Scooch, crouch... In New York City scouch (skautš) is said to be used. 1904 Eng. Dial. Dict. V. 262/1 Scouch, to crouch, stoop, bend down. 1941 Daily Kennebec Jrnl. (Augusta, Maine) 4 Feb. 8/5 She paid her penny faithfully to the toll man at his booth midway, while the boys scouched unseen past the wicket to save the price of a bag of bon bons. |